Forum to offer ideas on reducing residential water use

Dec. 3, 2013

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Staff report

The Desert Sun

If You Go

Reducing Your Water FootprintWhat can you do to conserve water in your home and garden? A free-ranging discussion about water use in the desert. When: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 6 p.m. Where: Mizell Senior Center, 480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs Admission: Free

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The Desert Sun, following up on a series of articles documenting groundwater depletion in the Coachella Valley, will be hosting a series of community forums in the coming weeks to encourage dialogue about the area’s water problems and offer potential solutions.

Heavy pumping from wells has led to significant declines in groundwater levels in the Coachella Valley, even as water agencies have piped large quantities of imported water to the desert.

The panel discussions will feature participants with ideas to share about water, how we use it and how it can be better managed. Each forum will have a theme, with subjects ranging from water policy-making to contaminants in drinking water.

The first forum was held on Tuesday, Dec. 3, in Palm Springs. The topic was on “Reducing Your Water Footprint.”

The Desert Sun is hosting this forum in conjunction with the Palm Springs Neighborhoods Group.

The event will be moderated by Desert Sun environment reporter Ian James.

Panelists will include Victor Yepello, commissioner, Palm Springs Sustainability Commission and moderator, Palm Springs Neighborhoods Group; Robin Kobaly, president and co-founder of The Power of Plants and executive director of The SummerTree Institute; and Maureen Gilmer, landscape architectural designer, horticulturist and author.

The dates and locations of future water forums will be announced in the coming weeks.